Foundation garment



Mayl, 1951 Kops 2,551,139

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 5, 1950' s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR: RICHARD S. KOPS ATTORNEY.

May 1, 1951 s, KOPS 2,551,139

" FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 5, 1950 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RICHARD S. KOPS ATTORNEY.

May 1, 1951' R. s. KoPs FOUNDATION GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1950 INVENTOR.

I RICHARD s. KOPS BY" ATTORNEY.

Patented May I, 1951 7 2 ,551,139? FbUNDAfiON GARMENT.

withi relatively; ngr1:o,w., hips; At "thegjsamejtim 10 is nree oiiseperate"bandsq r:beus jrra emhem g y re g e'paratefa tni e ori dlbi .jiandj j mto "the garment; The construct r'i c c'jntempleiteql by the; invention jis' ,of the", stje VOIYGS aisin llbodjencirclin m I I permanently connfifited;initfibula fprmfwith or without. a partial" opening at f some convnient pointclosableby a slide'fas'tenerror .the like; to, facilitate application of-thfe garment 'tothe bedy The arrangement is such that: a erfeet1y-'smooth; contourds provided=whichedapts the "garment to be worn beneath outerfga-rments of- 'anydesired form;

The foregoing objects are attained by the provision of speciahcontrol:panels, having'a parti'bu'-" 1a-r fdrmand construction; disposed in a. certain mannerat the sides of the garmentmverethe hip s'; These;- pane1s---perform:- the desired efieet upon the hips -w-ithout';however; restricting "the fredom "of expansion -of the garment *at "the "waist line and around the thighs; v

Other: 0bjects, features; and jadvantages 'ofithjei invention will "appearyfrom ,rthe detai 1ed"' de ser ip -J tion of an illustrative form? of". the same which 1 will nowbe given incdnjunetionwith' the accomf-' pany-ing d1aw1fngsf,-i1 i whi ch,:. I

Figi "1' isa frbnt View of an" illustrative f drm 'Of f the garment-laidflam P13 215 a "back viewof' saidi arment Fig-'31s a detail vie'wshbwizigte eertign of the garment as" vi-ewed-=from the "right side rofj'fthe Wearerfand Fig, 4 is a similargdetailivieweshowing a porio je modifi iqrm o e. arm n as iew d from the 'left' side 'of thepweal'er;

Referring nowtd the drawings;;thegemmentfin; s zi mi' ommis i rom ipen kj 0;; side panels 1" and'l 2-" and a back panel "I 3',"a11'ex= ifv i sig Qm iwhat" and. then: conv rge; sli h 21'" V tendingjffbmItlfe'upper edgeloffthe' arm l itsf weried e; The front anelglfl' sep ref v 0.111 in the shape of two .trfsipezbidsi. ifiYe EteQ' relation to; each thepand, joined aldng' theln rowtqp f lka'n'd, a ,ynarrbwlgbottqmz [5f The of this anel idiyergej .alQn' lines" lfiand, 11 1mm. h ;extremi iesibf" hetoprgedee.t Ip in eElan espec ively an hen. nver e 10'n' ;;1i I8 13 1 s; pre er bly: madeibg a er that; front. panelfand so Sliapedffi to jprpyide 'airelgg tiyehfg,"

. a) dicated. The form of stitching employed to connect the various panels together should be of a type permitting elongation or stretch in a direction lengthwise of the seam if the panels are formed of material having the capability of vertical stretch. The upper edge of the garment is preferably reinforced by a tape 24, preferably formed of elastic material, whichcompletely encircles the garment and is stitched thereto along the lines of stitching indicated; This stitching is also preferably of a type capable of extension so as not to interfere with the lateral elasticity of the upper end of the garment. Similarly, the lower edge of the garment is reinforced by an elastic tape completely encircling th same and secured by the same type of stitching.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the side panel l is cut away in a substantially elliptical area from a point 26, below the upper edge of the panel, along a smoothly curved line 21 forming one side of the ellipse down to a point 28 some distance up from the lower edge of the panel. A correspondingly curved edge 29 is provided at the opposite side of the cut-out to complete the ellipse which has its major axis from 26 to 28 disposed along the axillar line of the body of the wearer. The maximum width of the ellipse, between the points A and B, is disposed along the hip line of the wearer, i. e. at the point of maximum girth around the hips.

Underlying the panel I I, in the region of the elliptical cut-away portion, is a section 30 of material having substantially no capability of stretch in a lateral direction, i. e. around the body of the wearer. If the panel I i is formed of one-way stretch elastic, the section 30 may be formed of non-elastic material. However, if the panel ll isformed of two-way stretch elastic, the section 30 is preferably formed of one-way elastic materialcapable of stretching vertically, or lengthwise of the garment, but not laterally around the body of the wearer. Section 3!! is firmly secured to the panel ll along the edges 21 and 29. The stitching employed for this purpose should be of a type permitting extensibility of the seams if the section 39 and'the material of the side panel are capable of stretching vertically. Preferably the section 38 is shaped to conform with the elliptical opening or cut-away portion of the panel II and it is sufficiently larger than the cut-away portion to enable firm attachment, in the manner explained, without danger of pulling out the seams. However, the section 30 may, if desired, be of any other suitable configuration so long as it is stitched to the panel I! along the lines of the opening therein and is free of the panel ll outwardly of those lines. It will be understood, in this connection, that the section 30 may be secured to the panel II by a plurality of lines of stitching, if desired, so long as the outermost lines of stitching conform with the general contour of the lines 21 and 29. In fact, the panel H may, if desired, be left intact instead of providing it with the cut-out opening indicated and described, so long as .the section 39 is stitched to the side panel along lines corresponding generally with the lines 21 and 29. The area within the lines 21 and 29 may, in this event, be provided with any other lines of stitching which may be considered desirable from the standpoint of appearance. The securement of the section 36 to the elastic material of the panel ll along lines extending generally in the direction of the lines 21 and 29 will eliminatev the lateral stretch of this elastic material within the area defined by those lines so that the presence of any part or all of the material of panel ll within this area will not modify the stretchability of this area of the panel or of the panel II as a whole. Therefore, it is possible to provide the cut-out portion of the panel with a scalloped edge, for example, creating any artistic design within the area defined by the lines of stitching 21 and 29. Or such a design may be provided within the specified area without cutting away any of the elastic material of panel ll. Moreover, while the elliptical form of the area defined by the lines 21 and 29 is preferred, this may be modified, if desired. For example, the area over which lateral stretching of the section H is inhibited may be diamond shaped or provided with a scalloped'outline following generally the contour of the edges 21 and 29. It is primarily important that the area in which the lateral stretch of the panel I l is substantially elimianted should extend in a generally divergent direction from a point, or relatively narrow line, in the region of the point 26 to the points A and B on a line extending along the hip-line and should then extend in a generally convergent direction toward the point 28, or a relatively narrow line in the region of the point 28. For the sake of lightness, durability, elimination of bulk, smoothness of surface, and the like, the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the material of panel H is cut away along the edges 21 and 29, is preferred.

The overall length of the garment may be varied to suit the requirements, but in the preferred form it extends from a position well above the waistline to a position below the buttocks where it encircles the thighs of the wearer. The point 25, at the upper end of the cut-away portion of the side panel, is preferably positioned at or slightly below the waistline while the point 28 is positioned at least a slight distance upwardly from the lower edge of the garment. This provides for the full stretching of the side panels at and above the waistline and around the thighs, while the stretch over the hips is gradually decreased from the waistline to the hip line and then increased toward a line encircling the thighs.

Panel l2 may be of the same construction as the panel ii, if desired, having in mind the reverse arrangement of the longitudinally extending edges at the back and front of the garment. The tubular member forming the garment may thus be permanently closed throughout its length, if desired- To facilitate application of the garment to the body, however, it may be provided with an opening extending downwardly from the upper edge to a point substantially alon the hipline of the wearer. This opening may be 10- cated at any suitable point around the garment and may be closed by an appropriate fastening means. Preferably such means are of the slide fastener type to facilitate closing of the opening. In the preferred construction the opening indicated is located at the left side of the garment in axial alignment with the cut-away portion of the side panel or the vertical axis of the stretch control section 33. Thus, the opening is preferably disposed along the axillar line of the body of the wearer. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the left side panel 12 is shown as being provided with an elliptical cut-out having the upper end of its major axis positioned at a point 26a below the upper edge of the garment, substantially along the waistline of the wearer. The cutaway or stretch restricted area is defined by sweepingly curved edges 3| and 32 which first diverge and then converge to a point 28a above the lower edge of the garment.

' ferent, ways. laterally elastic material be provided from top tobottom of the side portions .ofthe garment The maximum. Width" of the cut away area is located" along a; line C'D-substantiall y at-the; hiplineor" thewearer, A-section 33 of;materia l similar" to the section tilde-positionedbeneath the cutaway area and-"is stitched to 'th'eedges-fi l and-'-32 -in themanner explained-inconnection with section-30. A slit or opening isprovided from-theupper edgeof the panel-42 along-an" extension oft-he line irom' 28m to 2E a-andthis slit or opening extends downwardlyto a sui-tablee point 34, whichis-preferablyalong or below the line-CD.=. A-- slide fastener is-preferablypro-- vided for closing the-opening thus provided-cthe interengaging and interlocking elements 35 of the "fastener beingucarried by tapes suitably se cured to theiree edges of -the opening. Ander- 36, of: well-'known'form, is adapted-to slide along thesfasteningl elements to; interengage and dis.- engage-the same.

Torstiffen the; upperl portion of 'Jthegarment and assist in maintaining itin propenposition on .the. body, suitable boning maybe,- provided. This, may suitablyinclude a. .pair of stays .131 land 33;.atzthe front of the-garment, preferably. in..-..

clinedslightlyto the vertical along. lines parallel with the edges it. and H of the. front panel. In. the rea go'f the garment similar stays;..3.9;and;.i'l, preferably of somewhat; greater; length .1. than.

' those at the front,, are: provided. these. bein preferably carried-by the, backpanel l3;.:an d .dis-

posed adjacent to and parallel with the edgesg2l; Similarstays 5! and ih maybe; provided. at the sides ofthe garment, these-being; preferably disposed in. Verticalalignmentwith the axes of the elliptical cut-outs formed in the;

and 2 2 thereof.

side panels. It will. be understood-thatsuitable pockets, to receive; and retain the stays may be formed by tapesappropriately stitched, to thevarious panels at the desired points. If the-side opening described aboveis provided, in ,the;1nanner indicated in Fig. 4, thestay 4! will, of course,.

be omitted, A corresponding stiffening action is;

provided in this caseby the slidefastener means.-

Suitable garter attachments. 43 may ,beprovided; along the lower edge of thetgarmentat appro-.

priate points.

While apreferred embodimentoftheinventi-on; and some possiblemodifications have-.been dem scribed in considerable detail, it will be under:

stood'that various other changes may be made,

in the construction and. arrangementuof the various partswithout departingfrom thegeneral principles and scope of theinvention, Eor ex-. ample, the bodyenciroling member may, if de,-.. sired; be, formed completely of elastic, material either of the one-way stretch type having ability,

and;that lateral stretch be. eliminated. or controlled in areas, of "the character indicated, over the hips. An advantageous feature of the preferred constructioni. illustrated; however, is that the formof the front and rear, panels are such that, the elastic side panels willhave a maximum circumferential dimension adjacent the lower end of the garment and a minimum circumferential dimension in a zone between the waist-line pableiof stretchingandexertinga confiningvferca and the-hi1: -line ;ofthe -wearea- Theeireum ferential dimension'oftheelastic side- -panels in'- creases gradually both upwardly and 'downward ly-from thezone'of minimum-dimension... This: phase of the preferred embodiment pore-themeencircling member adapted to. extend fronrra. point at or above thewaistline. of. the wearerlto a.

point. below, therbuttocks said: member. being formedat least;in part. of elastic materialcae.

in a direction .aroundthe bodym of the wearen throughout the verticallengtlrof the -member,- said elastic material being disposed-at least in part so as toextend around the sides of-the wearer from a line-at the back to a line-atthe-front, andmeans comprisingsections of material having-- substantially no stretch in a-direction aroundthe body positioned in the region of the hips of-the wearer,-one of-saidsections being'stitched-to said elastic -material at each side ofthe member along lines each ofwhich extends from a point below the upper edge of the member to apoint above the lower edge of the memben'said lines of stitching at each side extending in generally divergent directions from the upper end of said section to the region of the hip lines and extending in gene. erally convergent directions from saidregion to;- ward the lower end of said section.

2: A foundation garment comprisinga body encircling member adapted to extend from a point at or above the waistline of the wearerto a point below the buttocks, saidmember being formed at least in part of elastic material capable of stretching and exerting a confining force in a direction' around the body of the wearer throughout the vertical length of themember, said elastic material being disposed at least in part so. as to each of which extends fromapoint belowithe u peredge f the member to a pointaboye the.

- lower edge of the member,- said lines ofstitching,

at each side extending in generally divergentrdirections from the upper end of said sectiontol-the. region. of the hip line and extending in. generah, 1y convergent directions from said regiontowardthe lowerend of'said section, said lines ofrstitch ing at each side of the garment serving toenclose.

an area of. gen rally elliptical form. I

3. A' foundation garment comprising-a body en-. circling member adapted to extend from a. point at .or above. the waistline of the wearer to a point below the buttocks, said member being'formed at. least in part of elastic material capable'of stretching,.,and exerting a oonfining-force in a directionaround thebody of thelwearer 'through;-.

out the vertical length of the member, portions oif aid l t c mat ri l, extending ar und e des; of the wearer from a line at the back to a line at the front, each of said portions being cut-away in a region overlying one of the hips of the wearer along lines extending in generally divergent directions from a position below the upper edge of said member to substantially the line of maximum girth around the hips and then extending in generally convergent directions to a position above the lower edge of said member, and a section of material having substantially no stretch in a direction around the body stitched to the edges of each of said portions provided by said cut-away regions, the arrangement being such that stretching of said member in a direction around the body is prevented in each of said cutaway regions but is permitted in areas directly above and below said regions.

4. A foundation garment comprising a body encircling member adapted to extend from a point at or above the waistline of the wearer to a point below the buttocks, said member having portions at the sides thereof formed of two-way stretch elastic material, each of said portions extending the full length of the member around one of the sides of the wearer from a line at the back to a line atthe front, and means comprising sections of material having substantially no stretch in a direction around the body but being capable of stretching longitudinally of said member positioned in the region of the hips of the wearer, one of said sections being stitched to said elastic material at each side of the member along lines each of which extends from a point below the upper edge of the member to a point above the lower edge of the member, said lines of stitching at each side extending in generally divergent direcconvergent directions from said region toward the lower end of said section.

5. A foundation garment comprising a body encircling member adapted to extend from a point below the buttocks, said member comprising two side panels, a front panel and a rear panel each extending the full length of said member, said four panels being successively stitched together along at least a portion of their adjoining edges into permanently connected tubular form, said side panels being formed of elastic materialcapable of stretching and exerting a confining force front and rear panels being substantially incapable of stretching in said direction, said side panels being so shaped as to provide greater circumferential dimensions at their upper and lower edges than in a region intermediate said edges, each of said side panels having stitched thereto a section of material having substantially no stretch in a direction around the body, said sections being so disposed as to extend over the hips of the wearer and being stitched to said side panels along lines each of which extends from a point below the upper edge of the member to a point above the lower edge of the member, said lines of stitching at each side extending in generally divergent directions from the upper end of said section to the region of the hip line and extending in generally convergent directions from said region toward the lower end of said section.

6. A foundation garment comprising a body encircling member adapted to extend from a point at or above the waistline of the wearer to a point below the buttocks, said member comprising two tions from the upper end of said section to the region of the hip line and extending in generally at or above the waistline of the wearer to a point A in a direction around the body of the wearer, said.

side panels, a front panel and a rear panel each extending the full length of said member, said four panels being successively stitched together along at least a portion of their adjoining edges into permanently connected tubular form, said side panels being formed of two-way stretch elastic material, said front and back panels being formed of one-way stretch elastic material so disposed as to enable stretching of the same longitudinally of the member but not transversely thereof, each of said side panels having stitched thereto a section of material having substantially no stretch in a direction around the body but being capable of stretching longitudinally of said member, said sections being so disposed as to extend over the hips of the wearer and being stitched to said side panels along lines each of which extends from a point below the upper edge of the member to a point above the lower edge of the member, said lines of stitching at each side extending in generally divergent directions from the upper end of said section to the region of the hip line and extending in generally convergent directions from said region toward the lower end of said section, the maximum width of the area defined by said lines of stitching at each side of said member being substantially less than that of said front and rear panels.

7. A foundation garment comprising a body encircling member adapted to extend from a point at or above the waistline of the wearer to a point below the buttocks, said member being formed at least in part of elastic material capable of stretching and exerting a confining force in a direction around the body of the wearer throughout the vertical length of the member, said elastic material being disposed at least in part so as to extend around the sides of the wearer from a line at the back to a line at the front, and means comprising sections of material having substantially no stretch in a direction around the body positioned in the region of the hips of the wearer, one of said sections being stitched to said elastic material at each side of the member along lines each of which extends from a point below the upper edge of the member to a point above the lower edge of the member, said lines of stitching at each side extending in generally divergent directions from the upper end of said section to the region of the hip line and extending in generally convergent directions from said region toward the lower end of said section, the area defined by said lines of stitching at each side of said member being substantially symmetrically disposed in relation to the axillar line of the body of the wearer.

RICHARD S. KOPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,889,285 Hart Nov. 29, 1932 1,968,339 Eatman July 21, 1934 2,384,806 Berdach Sept. 18, 1945 2,458,712 Kops Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 815,753 France Apr. 12, 1937 

